Electric switch



Aug. 3 1926. 1,594,550

IH. E. NoRvu-:L v

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Nov. 1, 1923 Patented Aug". 3, 1926.

NETE- D STATE IEDEANA, A'SSIGNOR TO GENERAL MOTORS COR- POBATION, CQRP'OBTON OF DELAWARE. i l

ELECTRC SWITCH.

Application mea rgvemper i, less. ,serial No. 672,180.

rlhis inventionrelates to electrical switches and has'alnong its .objects toprevent- `the unauthorized completion ot an electric circuit, such as the electrical .ignition circuit tor an -automobile. j

In order to attain this object 4the `present invention consists oit a plurality ,Of .electric switches connected in series andconcealed Withina switch case carrying a rotatably mounted` disc covering' `openings in the switch case Athrough which the switches may beoperete'd by means of an Operatinghendle or plunger carriediby the disc. Therefore the combination cennot be detected .as in the case Wherethe individual switches have their operatingmembers exposed, and the use of any particular switch vcan be detected bythe amount of wear to .which an exposed surtace has been subjected. The inventionprovides also for niakingit ditlicultto detect the status ofX any ot .the switchesa that is, Whether it isopen or closed. The invention pro-vides ttor niekingit Vdithcult to detect the coinhinationlby' repeated trials, since the sir-itch.combination can ybe set `up only by turningithe disc in one direction. Turning the discibaclrivard cnusesthe ,combination to be upset even though the Vcon'ibination has heen `partially completed. 'lhe lbnclvmrd `inovenient ot `the Vdisc is .used as e ineens @for coen-ing the circuit coinpletedby the cornbinntionswitch and for upsetting' the coinbination, thereby, providing a llock for `the switch.

`lihirther objects and .advantages 4oit `the tiresent`- invention .will y he VKagp arent troni the `iollfmiiig .dcscriptioii7 reference beingl had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Va preteried torni ottenihodiinent oi. the present invention is clearly shown.'

In the :drawings:

Fig. 1 is a .front elevationor face `view ot a torni of switch includingt-he presentinvention.

2, is a `longg'itudinal .sectional View taken on .the line 2-2ct1Figl.

Fi 3 .is a. transverse sectional vieW. on thevr line .3 3 .offfigx Figs. -seand areisectionalviews on 4the linee-.4: .of :Fig: 3 vshowing two of the switches ofthe :combination switchin .difttaken erentpositions.

#Figs.6.and-7 .are sectionaLvieWs ofswitch .3S and a spring Washer .39. .normally tendsto prees a ,contactl supporting inst yratchet member i2 having e 3 is in turn presse-:l stud 33.

with the adjacentcontact ot enotheroa with a switch actuator orplunger QGQlocated in alignment ,With the apertured bosses 2l which are arrengedin a .circular non? 'con- Centric .to the shaft 23. The plunger 26'is returned by a Spring `277 to the position shown in 2. F ace plate 24 vis pilovid'e'd with a. plurelity of Vdepressions oneffor leach position oi' the disef Aspring pressed bell 29, pressed outridlriby flieispl'insf@ located Within'a recess in the Wall ofcase 20, cooperates ivitlithe depressions 28 toas`- .sist in locating the inlet@ 24 .ilts ,different positions.`

The switch case 2O is provided With t etachable cover lor ,hack plate 3l secured by screws 32. The plate 3l carries@ having a head The Astud apet'ured to receive a reducedportion 3,5 of the'shaft 23 which is threaded at its outer ,toreceive nuts and 37. ii Between the plete 3l vand nut fthereis located a `plain vrac-her A. :sprin .4:0

disc 4.1 e ratchet teeth 4i-3, `and said ratchet nie iber againsttlie head 4i-ot `Riitcliet ineinber 42 carries a pin fitvvhich cooperates Witlia plurality of calnming.;` lineinber 45 With Which the Ginn 46 otthe disc il is provided. Tlie teetl1 ot `ratchet 412 cooperate `with the teeth .47 "ot iatchetft which is Lconnected with the shalt lgtor lrotation therewith :is Well astor end- Wise movement relative thereto. l This connection is, provided by means oa pin ,4Q cairried by the shaft 23 which projects` i1ito` a slot carried by the ,ratchetlg Asl SD 5l tends normally to-,hold the ratchet nien ybers :48 and l-Qin engagement.

Each individual switch ot the combination switch includes a pair of contacts .6 0 7and 61the contact offene pair being connecec the terminals 63 and 64.

Each individual switch includes also a movable operating member or push rod 67 of non-conducting material having between its ends grooved surfaces 68 and 69.

The surface 68 is non-conducting and the surface 69 is conducting and is provided by a conducting band 70 shown in section in Fig. 3. Each rod 67 is slidable within an apertured boss 21 and the rods are located some with the conducting band 70 located nearest the boss 21 and some with the. nonconducting groove 68 nearest the boss 21. Each end of the rod 67 is provided with a central bore 71 adapted to receive the shank 72 of a plunger havingkk a head 73 slidable in the boss 21. A spring 74 tends to maintain the head 73 in engagement with the disc 24 or with the inner en'd of plunger' 26 as shown in Fig. 4. f

The switch case 2O is provided with lugs 8O received by notches 81 provided in the plate 41 in order to prevent rotation of said plate.

The mode of operation of the invention is as follows:

After a combination has been upset in a manner to be described, all of the push rods 67 will be located as shown in Fig. 2. Some of the rods may be in contact making position, and others not, therefore only those rods which are not in contact making posic tion should be operated. The switch which is illustrated on the drawings shows eight ro'ds 67 which for convenient reference may be numbered from 1 to 8 beginning with the rod at the top of the drawings as N o. 1 and proceeding in a clockwise direction. Therefore there are eight positions of the face plate 24 and plunger 26, and these positions are indexed by the spring pressed ball 29 which will move into one of the depressions 28. Referring to Fig. 3 it is apparent that push rods 67 which are in positions 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 are so located that their conducting bands 70 are in contact making position, therefore, these particularv push rods are not operated to set up the combination. To set up the combination the push ro'ds located in positions 1, 5 and 7 should bey pushed in. This can be done by turning the face plate 24 so that the plunger 26 is in position No. 1 as shown in Fig. 1. Pressing the plunger 26 will cause the plunger head 73 to move in against the end of the rod 67 causing the non-conducting portion 68 to move away from a pair of switch contacts 60 and 61 and the conducting portion 69 to4 move between said pair of contacts. l/Vhen the plunger 26 is released, it will be returned by the spring 27 and the plunger head 73 will return by the spring 74 into engagement with the face plate 24. Then the plunger 26 is turned into positions 5 and 7 and operated inthe same manner.

The plunger 26 therefore constitutes a common operating member for` all of the switch plungers which are actuated for setting up the combination. The switch rods themselves are concealed so there is no way of telling by external appearance which of the individual switches have been subjected to frequent operation.

No matter what the status of a switch rod 67 is, that is, whether in or out of engagement with its switch contact this status cannot be readily detected because the member 73 which transmits motion from the plunger 26 to the rod 67 always returns to a position against the face plate 24, thereby providing a plug for the aperture in boss 21.`

After a switch rod 67 has once been pushed in it cannot be restored except by counterclockwise rotation of the face plate 24 and such movement of the plate causes all of the rods 67 to return to the position shown in Fig. 2 thereby upsetting the combination.v This result is accomplished by means of the ratchet mechanism shown in Figs. 6 and 7. l/Vhen the face plate 24 is moved clockwise the ratchet 48 will turn in the direction of the arrow 82 shown in Fig. 6 and the teeth 47 of ratchet 48 will ride over the teeth 43'of ratchet 42 thereby com pressing the spring 51 beyond its normal state of compression. Then the spring 51 will return the ratchet 48 to the position shown in Fig. 7. The spring 51 is relatively weaker than the spring 40, hence the ratchet 43 will not be moved endwise toward the right of the drawing to any substantial amount. Fig. 6 shows a position taken by the ratchet 48 as the plate 24 is moving into one of its operative positions, so that the plunger 26 can be operated as shown in Fig. 4. If the face plate 24 is turned counter clockwise so that the ratchet 48 will be moved in the direction of arrow 83 in Fig. 7, the teeth 47 of ratchet 48 will grip the teeth 43 of ratchet 42 and cause ratchet 42 to move in the same direction. The pin 44 will be moved from a'position such as shown in Fig. 6 into a position such as shown in Fig. 7. Thus the pin 44 cooperates with the camming members 45 to move the contact support 41 into the position shown-in Figs. 5 and 7. When the contact plate 41 is thus moved, the pairs of contacts 60 and 61 will each engage that grooved portion of CTI a rod' 67 which is nearest tothe back of theV switch. When the tace plate 2e is turned? still further, the pin Lis will clear onel of the camming members 45 permitting' the spring et() to move the plate l1 into its normal po4- sition and all of the contact rods 67 will; be located as shown in Fig. 2 and the switch combination will be upset and the circuit between the terminals 63 and G4 will be mterrupted.

rllhe present invention can be used advantageously to turn on or complete the ignition circuit of an automobile. llnstead of using a lrey to permit the operation of a switch lever, 'a certain coinbinzrtion4 of switches is operated. The ignition circuit is broken to stop the engine by rotating the face plate 24E counterc'loclrwise which will result in upsetting the combination, and in locking the ignition circuit open or oil?. ln other words, stopping` the engine causes the ignition circuit to beV locked in inoperative condition, and there is no ley to be removed from the lock.

It the automobile driver leaves the car with the engine running, an occupant cannot readily detect which switch rods have been pressed in to complete the ignition circuit because the plunger heads 73 are all the same distance romthe plunger 26 regardless of the status of the switch rods 67.

In order to make it diiiicult to bridge the switch terminals 63 and 64, they may be enclosed in metal conduits which receive the wires connectedwith the switch.

lWhile the preferred form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all comino` within the scope or the claims which follow.

l/Vhat is claimed is as follows:

l. A combination electric switch comprising', in combination, a plurality oi' switches connected in series,fsome of which may be normally closed and others normally open according to the combination desired` a switch actuaaingl member, a movable carrier supporting the actuating member and adapted to locate the actuating; memberso that thev normally open switches can be closed thereby, and means tor restoring the switches to normal condition to upset the combination.

2. A combination electric switch comprisu ing, in combination, a plurality of switches connected in series, some oi2 which may be normally closed and others normally open.

according` to the combination desired, a switch actuating member, a movable carrier supporting the actuating member and rotatable in one direction to locate the actuating member so that the normally open switches can be closed thereby, andmeans actuated by rotation of the movable carrier in the other direction for vrestoring` the switches ing, in combination, a plurality et switches I' connectedy in series, each having movable member, some of saidl switch members beingnormally in circuit closedl position and otliers in circuit open position according toy the combinationdesired, a switch house ing; enclosing saidy switches andi provided with openings through which said switch members are actuated', an actuator adapted to operate saidl switch members through said openings, and a. carrier supporting` the actuatorv and covering said openings and mow able to locate the actuator opposite any ot said openings. f

A; combination electric switch compris ing, 'incombination, a plurality of switches connected in series, each having a movable member, some oil said? switch members being?,` normally in circuit closed position and others in circuit open positionaccording to the combination desired, switch housing! enclosing openings through which said switch meinbers are actuated, an actuator adapted to operate saidl switch members through said openings, a carrier supporting the actuator and covering sa-idfopenings and movable to locate the actuator opposite any of said openings, and devices each engageable by the actuator, when -operatingj a movable switch member all of the devices lia-ving normally the samerelation to the carrier when the actuator is released regardless of the status of the movable switchmembers.

5; An electric switch comprising', in combination, a switch case; a non-conducting push rod; a contact on sa-idpush rod; a contact member yieldingiy r-ngagjingg; the push rod or its contact', dependent upon the position oit the push rod; means to; i c' `L push rod in one direc ion 'rehao "e to the con# tact member yicldingly engao said rod; means for moving the said Contact member in the same direction and relative to the Ini'sh rod to rest-ore the n rmal rel tion ci: the contacts; and means ttor movi1n` o le con tact member and the push rod si iultan'eonrly in the opposite direction to restorev them both to normal location relative to the switch case. v

6. An electric switch comprising. in combinaticn` a switch case: a uon-conducting 'wish rod including encirclinggrooves.; a grooved conducting band in one of said grooves; a yieldable Contact member-so con structed and arranged as to yieldably rest in either the puslnrodgroove or its Aojipovec conducting,` band; means for lmoving` the push rod in one direction relative to the yieldable contact to alter the relative position between the said contact and conducting said switches and provided with lll! tact in the same direction and relative to the push rod to restore the said yieldable conl tact and conducting band to original relative positions; and means for moving the contact member and the push rod simultaneously in the opposite direction to restore them both to normal location relative to the switch case.

7. A combination electric switch comprising, combination, a switch case; a plurality of non-conducting pushfrods; a contact on each oi' said push rods; ak yieldable contact member for each push rod, said contact member normally engaging the push rod or the contact thereon, dependentA upon the combination desired; means for selec-L tively moving in one direction any of the push rods out of their normal yieldable ccntact-engaging positions; means for moving the yieldable contact niembersin the same direction relative to the push rodspreviously operated, to restore the normal lrelation of the contacts; and means lor simultaneously moving all ot the contact members and their respective push rods in the opposite direction to restore them all to normal location relative to the switch casing.

8. An electric combination switch comprising, in combination, a switch casing; a plurality of interconnected switches in said casing, said switches each including a nonconducting push rod having a conducting band; a pair of Contact blades for each one of said interconnected switches, each of said blades yieldingly engaging its respective push rod or its conducting band when in normal position and dependent upon the combination desired; a face plate rotatably supported by the switch casing and provided with an actuating plunger adapted by rotation of the face plate, selectively to be brought into operative relation with any one of the push rods, said actuating plunger being operable in one direction to move the push rods out of normal position; means for simultaneously moving the switch blades in the same direction and relative to the push rods previously operated to restore the relative position of the blades and push-rod conducting band; and means for restoring all the switches in the casing to their normal positions relative to said casing. p

9. A combination electric switch comprising` in combination, a switch casing; a plurality of switches in said casing, said switches includingr interconnected pairs of contacts mounted on a common insulated plate each yieldingly engaging a cooperating push rod; a face plate rotatably supported* on the switch casing; means for selectively operating any of the push rods in one direction relative to its respective switch blades; a cani on the contact-blade supporting plate;

a ratchet mechanism associated with the face direction similar to that in which the push' rods have been previously operated whereby the contact blades will be moved relative to such respective push rods to restore the relative position between the pushv rods andy blades; and means for returning the Contact blades and push rods to their former position relative tothe switch casing when the tace plate is rotated in the same direction and into proper position. i

10. A combination electric switch comprising, inl combination, a switch housing including a plurality oiapertured bosses; a plurality of switches in said housing, each switch including a pair of contacts and a push rod having` a normal contact engagement and being supported in the res Jective apertured boss; a face plate rotatab y supported .on the switch housing and adapted to conceal the apertures of the various bosses; and an actuating memberv carried by the face plate and adapted to be brought into alineinent withany of the said apertures in the bosses when the face plate is rotated, whereby the actuating member may be operated to move the respective push rods out ot' normal Contact engagement.

ll. A combination electric switch comprising, in combination, a switch housing including a circular-shaped, flat tace and a plurality of inwardly-extending, apertured bosses; a plurality of switches iii said casing, said switches including push rods slidably supported in the respective apertured bosses; a face plate rotatably supported adjacent the flat tace of the switch housing and covering the apertures of the bosses; an actuating member carried by the face plate and adapted to be brought into proper alinement with the various apertures in the switch casing by rotation of the face plate; a yieldable stop to ensure registration of the actuating member and apertures; and a plunger in each aperturekoi; the switch casing, having a spring interposed between said plunger and its respective push rod whereby said plunger is yieldingly heldy against the surface of the face plate to substantially prevent detection of operated push rods by the feel of the actuating member.

In testimony whereof I lieieto aHiX my signature.

HARRY E. NORVIEL. 

